ASP Olympics Report

The Olivet ASP Olympics were held on the afternoon of May 16, 2010.

A MAJOR THANK YOU to everyone who was there and to those who support our ASP team. It was a great day!

I love God’s coincidences. Unbeknownst to me until I heard it on KYW that morning, it was 20 years to the day after the passing of Jim Henson, the man behind the Muppets. I believe it was actually the day after he passed, May 17, 1990, I was at my daughter’s elementary school, waiting to be the starter for the 75yd dash at their Field Day event. One of those “you-know-where-you-were-when” events.

Back on that day in 1990, I stood in the Rainbow Elementary School gym while they played their school theme song over the PA system, “The Rainbow Connection”, by Kermit the Frog, in tribute. All of this came together, in my head at least, in the midst of a gorgeous day for our first ASP Olympics, at the moment when Libby Snyder pointed out a beautiful rainbow in the sky, on a sunny day. I can’t say I’ve ever seen such a thing before. A rainbow, with no rain. Go figure!

Here are the official standings for our two major events -

Official Standings: Quarter-Mile

Gold - Wayland Washington (finishing at 1:30, a 6:00/mile pace)
Silver – Beau Wilson (only a few seconds behind)
Bronze - Josh Kuhn
Runner-up – Danny Kuhn

The gold metalist will receive a $15 iTunes card. The Quarter-Mile Race consisted of 4 quarter-mile heats, followed by a quarter-mile final.



Official Standings: Obstacle Relay

Gold - Team Turtle 11:21
Silver - Team Beau 11:23
Bronze - Team Hannah 11:29
Runner-up - Team Short 11:37

Racing Order:

Team Hannah 11:29
Team Short 11:37
Team Turtle 11:21
Team Beau 11:23

The obstacle race consisted of a joist walk, wheelbarrow-walk, under-the-house crawl, board-walk, ladder-climb-for-a-nail, saw-a-board, nail-a-board, level-a-board, run-like-the-wind, relay race.

Team Turtle was Josh Kuhn, Wayland Washington, Laura Selin, Georgie Snyder, and Brandon Moore.
- they were so proud standing on the podium it looked like a statue of Iwo Jima!

Team Beau was Stephen Kuhn, Ashley Moore, Anna Kuhn, Beau Wilson, and Bryan Esworthy.

Team Hannah was Hannah Reczek, Taylor Wilson, Megan Sandoe, Abby Sauer, and Libby Snyder.

Team Short was Danny Kuhn, Christine Moore, Millie Dorminy, Zachary Patterson and Josh Wagner.

Becca Tritt, sidelined with a ski injury, served as judge for the level-a-board obstacle. Thanks Becca!

Mindy Esworthy, budding professional photographer, served as our photographer. Thanks Mindy!

I apologize for trashing any names with misspellings!

Other events included Frisbee, eating Hot Dogs, Bananas, Pink Lemonade, Water, cheering Spectators, Sunning, Walking, and Spotting. Thanks to all the group leader adults who participated and to our spectators!

As the Olympic Theme played at the beginning of our “games”, Hannah Reczek proudly carried the Olympic torch (a battery operated candle). The torch for us symbolizes the presence of the Holy Spirit living amongst and in us, drawing us to Christ, and drawing us into Christian community.

I believe God has instilled every person with a yearning to know something that is beyond ourselves. As the song goes, “Someday we'll find it, that Rainbow Connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me”. I think if you’re one of those whose already found the Rainbow Connection, then you have already recognized the life-giving breath of God - The Holy Spirit of God Almighty the Creator of the Universe, living within you - breathe deeply!

Happy Hiking, and God Bless,

- allen